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Blarney Canyon - Left Fork (Mile 27.6 Canyon) - North Wash, Utah

Summary: A nice enough technical canyon with 3 rappels and some sideways scraping and down climbing along through a narrow twisty slot. Short sections of wading may be required, but you should not have do do any swimming. To complete this canyon you will need 100 ft of rope, webbing, harness, helmet & descending gear. Leave the bolt kit at home, the canyon is not bolted and should be kept that way. Natural anchors may be used at all drops.
Directions: North Wash is located off of Highway 95, south of Hanksville, UT and north of the Hite Marina on Lake Powell. Drive on Highway 95 to between mile posts 27 & 26 (about mile 27.6). Pull off the pavement onto a short dirt road located on the east and park at the end (UTM 0539961mE, 4208163mN). The drainage just to the left of this parking spot is Blarney.
Road Conditions: Passenger Car
Navigation: Moderate - a GPS is useful
Length: ~3 hours
Date Hiked: October, 2003
Weather Conditions: Warm and Sunny
Required Skills:
Hike Description: From the car park, walk left across the wash and work your way up the slickrock. Once on top you'll see that you are on an arm between two drainages. Blarney is on your right (east) Shillelagh is on your left (west). When you reach the top of the mesa you should be able to pick up a developing trail which leads north to the heads of both of these canyons. To get to the left fork of Blarney, turn right when the drainage below you becomes shallow and route find down into the wash at (0540466mE 4209675mN). In this upper part of Blarney there are two minor forks. The easiest way to enter the canyon is from the west fork (or the first one you come to). Rap #1 is 35' from a sling around a large rock. Walk down canyon a short distance and you'll soon arrive at Rap #2, which is 20 ft from another sling around a rock, into a tight slot. Continuing down canyon, you'll soon reach Rap #3, which is 40 ft from a sling around a rock, down into a deep, dark slot. A bit of walking, down climbing and chimneying will bring you to a junction with the right fork of Blarney (the author has not yet been through this fork). Below the confluence, the canyon widens and it's easy walking back to your car.
Rating (1-5 stars):
This canyon is relatively short, easy and photogenic. It's also a good opportunity for intermediate level canyoneers to practice their use of natural anchors. The canyon was completed by a group of 3 in 3 hours at a casual pace.
Books: Technical Slot Canyon Guide to the Colorado Plateau - Michael R. Kelsey
Maps: Click here for a map of the area
Photos: Click picture for larger view, click your browser's 'Back' button to return to this page.
Rap #1 Rap #2
Down climbing in a
narrow slot.
Nice canyon.